Protecting Tasmanian workers from the harmful effects of second-hand tobacco
smoke will be easier from today, with the launch of a new resource to help
workplaces go smoke-free.
 
The Minister for Health, Michelle
O'Byrne, launched Going Smoke-free: your workplace kit today at the Cascades
Female Factory.
 
Ms O'Byrne said that the kit had been piloted at
Tasmanian worksites, including the Port Arthur Historic Site, which went totally
smoke-free for workers and visitors last year.
 
"The Female Factory
has announced today that it will follow suit - from 1 July, all buildings and
grounds of the World-Heritage-listed site will be smoke-free."
 
Ms
O'Byrne said while most indoor workplaces were already smoke-free, smoking was
still too common in outside workplaces and some semi-inside workplaces like
sheds and garages.
 
"If employees are exposed to environmental
tobacco smoke at work, either inside or outside, their workplace is not safe,"
she said.
 
"The World Health Organisation has stated there is no
safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke.
 
"Going smoke-free helps
employers meet their legal responsibilities to protect people at or near
workplaces from risks to health and safety."
 
Ms O'Byrne said going
smoke-free in the workplace is one of the most important things employers can do
to protect the health of employees, and is widely accepted by the
community.
 
"Research shows 82 per cent of Australians support
measures to ban smoking in the workplace.
 
"It's also good for
business, because the health of your business depends on the health of your
employees."
 
Ms O'Byrne said that the highly addictive nature of
tobacco smoking made it important for employers to consider the needs of smokers
when making the change.
 
"As well as restricting or banning smoking
in the workplace, it's important that smokers are supported to adjust to the
change.
 
"Going Smoke-free: your workplace kit is full of
information covering the benefits of reducing smoking in the workplace, legal
responsibilities, communication and signage, and how to support employees to
reduce or quit smoking."
 
The kit also includes case studies showing
how other Tasmanian workplaces have gone smoke-free, and easy-to-use templates
that minimise the effort involved.
 
Going Smoke-Free: Your workplace
kit is freely available online at www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/peh/smoke-free_workplace